We are now getting word from inside Congress that the “fix” may be in on a Boehner-Reid deal to fund the government until March 31 -– more or less on Barack Obama’s terms. Thus, Republicans would agree to fund ObamaCare, fund IRS agents to arrest ObamaCare dissenters, fund Obama’s anti-gun agenda, fund Planned Parenthood -– and then plea for the votes of people who are | Read More »

Yesterday, it was announced that John Boehner and Harry Reid had reached an early agreement on the FY 2013 budget in order to avoid a government shutdown on October 1. Pursuant to the agreement, both chambers will vote on a 6-month continuing resolution after returning from the August recess in September. The CR will provide spending for discretionary programs set at the $1.047 trillion level | Read More »

Yesterday, it was announced that John Boehner and Harry Reid had reached an early agreement on the FY 2013 budget in order to avoid a government shutdown on October 1. Pursuant to the agreement, both chambers will vote on a 6-month continuing resolution after returning from the August recess in September. The CR will provide spending for discretionary programs set at the $1.047 trillion level | Read More »

If you had any doubt that our national leaders are more concerned about preserving their jobs than with preserving our Republic, Sen. Rob Portman’s (R-OH) End Government Shutdowns Act should quickly dispel those doubts. Portman, joined by Senators Tester (D-MT), Barrasso (R-WY), Boozman (R-AR), Coats (R-IN), Cornyn (R-TX), Enzi (R-WY), Hoeven (R-ND), Lee (R-UT) and McCain (R-AZ) introduced a bill today that will attempt to insulate | Read More »

There is only one issue this week in Washington – a Continuing Resolution (CR). Both the House and Senate were scheduled to be out of session this week, so there are no major hearings or markups scheduled in committees. Friday is the deadline to pass a CR, therefore expect the House and Senate to convene off and on this week to cut a deal to keep | Read More »

There is only one issue this week in Washington – a Continuing Resolution (CR). Both the House and Senate were scheduled to be out of session this week, so there are no major hearings or markups scheduled in committees. Friday is the deadline to pass a CR, therefore expect the House and Senate to convene off and on this week to cut a deal to keep | Read More »

The President will be making a speech today from the Rose Garden (echoes of Carter?) mapping out proposed savings of $3 trillion over the next 10 years. According to the AP, the President’s new plan contains an old idea — massive tax increases: $1.5 trillion in new revenue, which would include about $800 billion realized over 10 years from repealing the Bush-era tax rates for couples | Read More »

The President will be making a speech today from the Rose Garden (echoes of Carter?) mapping out proposed savings of $3 trillion over the next 10 years. According to the AP, the President’s new plan contains an old idea — massive tax increases: $1.5 trillion in new revenue, which would include about $800 billion realized over 10 years from repealing the Bush-era tax rates for couples | Read More »

Consider this: A monumental piece of legislation — affecting a sector spanning over one-sixth of the economy — is negotiated behind closed doors by legislators for the purpose of slamming through the finished product before anyone has an opportunity to figure out what’s in it. ObamaCare? No… It’s the continuing resolution (CR) about to be sprung on Congress by the Democratic and Republican leadership. And the | Read More »

USA Today reported this week that billions in earmarks remain tucked into the funding measure that keeps the federal government running for the remainder of the fiscal year. Congress is debating right now how much to cut from the measure, yet these secret earmarks are not being openly discussed by members of Congress. That’s unfortunate. Earmarks should be low hanging fruit for the cost-conscious legislator. | Read More »

So … where is this whole budget process headed? Let’s review the bidding: Many conservative groups have pushed for -– at the very least -– Republican opposition to any short-or long-term spending bill that does not defund ObamaCare. The Republican leadership balks because they do not want to get the blame for shutting down the government -– which would be shut down for the sole | Read More »

So … where is this whole budget process headed? Let’s review the bidding: Many conservative groups have pushed for -– at the very least -– Republican opposition to any short-or long-term spending bill that does not defund ObamaCare. The Republican leadership balks because they do not want to get the blame for shutting down the government -– which would be shut down for the sole | Read More »

Every year, around Christmas time, the networks replay the classic Laurel and Hardy film “Babes in Toyland”. Though as a child I found most of the movie to be fairly boring, I watched every year for one reason: to see the army of wooden soldiers activated and sent out after the “bogeymen” lead by the evil Silas Barnaby. A feeling of excitement and pride washed | Read More »

Yesterday there was a vote in the House on another short-term (3-week) Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government. Much has been written about Republican Freshman and hills to die on. One thing upon which we all agree is that spending has gotten completely out of control, and something must be done about it. Colorado’s fourth congressional district has a new Republican representative after | Read More »